THE CONVENANT

The creature tilted its head, studying the way she trembled. Then it lifted its arm toward her and slowly opened its hand. She squinted, her eyes trailing the way its hand moved up and down steadily as it finally opened to reveal something oddly shaped. Fresh blood spilled between its fingers and splashed onto the dead leaves below, and whatever it held matched the rhythm of a drum.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Then it opened its mouth, and a jagged split appeared across its face.

Teeth.

Hundreds of them.

It bared them at her like a tiger. Deep, guttural snarls rumbling from somewhere within its hollow chest. Then, with horrifying calm, it lifted the still-beating heart to its jagged teeth and bit down.

Shakily, her hand flew to her throat. She clawed at her neck, desperate to force out a scream, but no sound came.

A wet, sickening crunch echoed through the silent forest as it chewed on flesh with rows of razor-sharp teeth. Mangled chunks and thick ropes of blood slipped between its fangs and splattered onto the ash-covered ground below.

Her mouth stretched open in a silent cry as tears blurred her vision.